Bracelet.



PATENTBD FEB. 12, 1907.

T. D. GIGUERE.

l BRACELET.

APPLIUATION FILED 00212.19, 190s.

NVEMI-D'H:

WITN'EEEEE.'

1H: 'vonnis Psrlns co., wAsmNcroN, n. c.

THOMAS D.

GIGUERE, OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

Bel-rester.4

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1907'.

Application filed Octnber 19, 1906` Serial No. 339.715.

To all whom, it rrwty concern:

i Be it known that l, TnouAs D. GIGUERE, a citi-en of the United States, residing at l\" orth Attleboro, in the county of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful improvement in Bracelets, of which the following is a speci'lication.

This invention has reference to an improvement in bracelets, and more particularly to an improvement in eXpansi ble bracelets composed of a plurality of spring-actuated units.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction oi an expansible bracelet, whereby the spring units 'forming the bracelet are simpliiied and strengthened and a more durable and perfect bracelet constructed than has heretofore been done.

A 'further obj ect of my invention is to reduce the cost of manufacturing expansible bracelets composed of a plurality of springactuated units.

My invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction of an expansible bracelet composed of a plurality or spring-actuated units, said units having details oi construction, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter and claimed.

Figure 1 is an edge view of an expansible bracelet composed of a plurality of my improved spring-actuated units and showing the bracelet in the contracted or normal position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view ot two units, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 looking trom the face toward the back and showing the position the springs would assume to hold the units in their normal or contracted osition. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectiona view similar to Fig. 2, showing the units in their expanded position. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line l 4 of Fig. 3 through the units in their expanded position. Fig. 5 is a side view oil the twopart shell of a unit, showing the slot in the side of the shell for a connecting-link. Fig. 6 is a side view of the box-frame oi' the unit, showing the opening in the side for a connecting-link. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a tubular connecting-link. Fig. 8 is a face view oic the springs used in a unit, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a spring-retaining member used for holding the springs in their operative position in a unit.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates an eX- pansible bracelet composed of a plurality of spring-actuated units ct c, each unit consisting of a doubie shell I), composed of two coiniding members, a box-frame c, a tubular connecting-link d, two heart-shaped actuating-springs c c, and an ii-shaped spring-retaining member Each member oi' the shell b is stamped up from sheet metal to form a rectangular shallow box 10, having the bottom 1], forming either the inner or outer face oi the bracelet, the ends 12 12, and the sides 13 13, in which are the oppositelydisposed openings 14 1 4, extending in 'from the edge and forming when the nembers ar brought together the elongated slots 15 15 for the connecting-links d d, as shown in Fig. 5. The box-frame is stamped up from sheet metal to form a rectangular box having the Hat bottom 16, the double semicircularshaped ends 17 17, and the sides 18 13, in which are the oppositeiy-disposed openings 19 19, extending in from the edge 'for the connecting-links d d, as shown in Fig. 6, and coinciding with the slots 15 l5 in the shell c.

The tubular connecting-links d (l are 'each in the 'form of a `flattened tube having the flat Faces 20 20, the closed ends 21 21, and the open sides 22 22, as shown in Fig. 7. ri'he thickness and width 'of the links coincide with the slots 15 15 in the she is b. The actuating-springs e c are each constructed. from spring-wire bent in the shape of an elongated heart to form the closed end 23, shaped to 'lit in the ends 17 17 of the box-frame c and the spring-arms 24 24, as shown in Fig. 8. The i-shaped spring-retaining memb erf is 'formed -from sheet metal and shaped to have the thin stem 25 merging into the T-shaped ends 26 26, as shown in Fig.

In assembling the units to form a bracelet the spring-arms 24 24 of the springs c c are inserted into the connecting-links d d through the open sides 22 22 in a position for the arms to straddle the adjacent closed ends of two links to overlap each other in the links and bear on the ends of the links, as shown in Fig. 2. The springs with the links are now placed in a box-frame c in a position for the closed ends 23 23 of' the springs to enter the ends 17 17 of the iframe and for the links to extend outward through the openings 19 19 in the Jframe, the spriiig-retaining member f placed in the box-frame intermediate the links with the T-shape ends 26 26 against the closed ends 23 23 of the springs, as shown in Fig. 3,

IOC

and the frame c inclosed in the two-part shell b in a position for the links d d to extend outward through the slots l5 15 in the sides if the shell. The two parts of the shell are now secured to the frame cby solder or other means. These operations are repeated as many times as there are units in thc bracelet. The bracelet can now be expanded by pulling the units apart against the tension of the spring-arms 24 24, which engaging with the sides 18 1S of the 'frame c limits the expansion of the units, as shown in Fig. 3. l/Vhen released, the units assumo their normal or contracted position, as shown in Figs. l and 2, through the t-ension of the spring-arms 24 24.

It is evident that the shell bof the unit could be shaped to conform to the contouro'f the box-frame c or have any design or con'liguration desired without materiallyT af'lfecting the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a bracelet, a plurality oli units having connecting-links, and springs in the units straddling the adjacent ends of the connecting-links, whereby the units are held in their contracted or normal position under spring tension.

2. A bracelet composed oi a plurality of units consisting oi a shell, a frame in the shell, connecting-links extending through slots in the frame and shell, and springs in the frame straddling the adjacent ends of the connectinglinks, whereby the units are held in their normal or contracted position under spring tension.

3. A bracelet compo ed of a plurality oi' units consisting of a shell, a 'frame in the shell, tubular connecting-links extending through openings in the 'frame and shell, springs in the frame straddling the adjacent ends of the connecting-links, and means for holding the springs in their operative positions in the frame, whereby the units are held in their normal or contracted position under spring tension.

4L. A bracelet composed of a plurality of spring-actuated units consisting of a shell, a

'the -frame, as described.

5. A bracelet comprising a plurality of spring-actuated units consisting oli a shell, a frame in the shell, tubular connecting-links extending through'openings in the shell and frame, wire springs in the frame having spring-arms straddling the adjacent ends of the connecting-links in the frame, means for holding the springs in their operative positions in the "rames, whereby the units are held in their normal or contracted position under spring tension, and means for limiting the expansion or opening movement of the units, as described.

G. A bracelet comprising a plurality of spring-actuated units a a, each unit consisting of a double shell I), a box-frame c, atubular connecting-link d, two heart-shaped wire springs e e in the 'frame straddling the adjacent ends of the connecting-links, and a spring-retaining-memberjl as shown and described.

In testimony whereof l. have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS D. GIGUERE.

l/Vitnesses ADA E. HAGERTY, J. A. MILLER. 

